Mental Health Programs Manager

maine; Augusta (ME); On-site; USD 63,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in Maine seeks a Social Services Manager I to lead statewide behavioral health initiatives and oversee contracts for public mental health services. The role requires coordinating with providers, assessing program performance, and ensuring MaineCare policy compliance.

Travel is expected for site visits; the position supports development and implementation of statewide policies and plans to improve client-centered services.

Qualifications

• Eight (8) year combination of education and/or professional experience in social services to include two (2) years of related program management experience.
• Expertise with assessments and evidence-based practices for mental health services.

Responsibilities

• Provide support and oversight of programs within OBH to collaborate with providers to fund needed mental health services across the state.
• Monitor and evaluate program efficiency and effectiveness via performance measures and metrics.
• Draft contractual agreements and budgets; collaborate with OBH Contracts Team to complete provider agreements.
• Analyze OBH contract performance and forecast spending trends with contract administrators, finance, and Data Team.
• Conduct site visits to mental health agencies to ensure compliance with grant contracts and MaineCare policy.
• Analyze service encounter reports to determine eligibility of services.

Skills

Contract management

Adult mental health

Program management

Performance metrics

Job description

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Social Services Manager I

Opening Date: September 10, 2026

Closing Date: September 23, 2026

Job Class Code: 5065

Grade: 27 (Supervisory Svs)

Salary: $62,566.40 - $88,337.60*

*This is inclusive of a 1.00% recruitment and retention stipend

Position Number: 03200-1151

Location: This position is located in Augusta and requires significant travel for site visits, mileage is reimbursed.

ANTICIPATED VACANCY

Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

Core Responsibilities

As Mental Health Program Manager for the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), you will assist in the development and implementation of statewide policies, procedures, and plans in order to ensure effective, quality, client-centered public mental health services, including ensuring the protections for those members with a serious mental illness are meeting the standards as defined in MaineCare policy. You will develop, implement, and oversee new and revised contracts for services in order to improve the operations and effectiveness of community programs and services.

Typical duties will include:

• Providing support and oversight of programs within OBH to include working with providers to effectively fund needed mental health services across the state.
• Monitoring and evaluating program efficiency and effectiveness through the development of performance measures and metrics.
• Drafting contractual agreements to include the completion of all required documentation and budgets. This position works closely with the OBH Contracts Team to complete provider agreements.
• Analyzing the performance of OBH contracts and working with contract administrators, finance staff, and the Data Team to forecast spending trends to make informed allocation decisions.
• Conduct site visits on mental health agencies to ensure compliance in grant contracts and MaineCare policy.
• Analyze service encounter reports to determine eligibility of services.

Minimum Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must have an eight (8) year combination of education and/or professional experience in social services to include two (2) years of related program management experience.

The background of well-qualified candidates will demonstrate expertise in the following areas:

• Experience working with adults- with serious mental illness and/or overseeing service providers.
• Experience with contracts management.
• Knowledge of assessments and evidence-based practices for mental health services.

Agency information

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

The Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) within DHHS is responsible for providing leadership and active partnership in Maine's comprehensive system of support to communities and individuals with substance use and mental health conditions through a network of community providers.

The OBH takes responsibility for a behavioral health continuum of care that serves the whole person, the whole community. We promote a population health approach that includes a full spectrum of services from early intervention, treatment, crisis care, to recovery. Our role is to ensure Mainers with mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders are not just symptom free but living a life of dignity, hope, and meaning. We partner with providers, communities, and citizens to offer support, resources, education, training, technical assistance, and services.

Application Information

For additional information about this position please contact Brianne Masselli at [e-mail]

To request a paper application, please contact [e-mail]